We’ve all been there. A blocked drain. A clogged toilet. A burst pipe. You never know when a plumbing emergency might happen and it’s great to know an emergency plumber is never too far away. But what do you do while you wait for help to arrive?
Even if you have no plumbing experience, there are things that you can do to help minimise damage to your home before your emergency plumber arrives. Here are 7 common plumbing emergencies and tips on what you can do before you call an emergency plumber.
7 common plumbing emergencies
Burst pipe – when water is gushing out of one of your pipes, that’s something that needs to be dealt with straight away. Try to isolate the leak first. If that’s not possible, the best course of action is to turn off the water supply at your meter while waiting for help to arrive.
Clogged toilet – a clogged or overflowing toilet is a sanitary nightmare. Try plunging the toilet first to dislodge the cause of the blockage. If that’s unsuccessful, switch off the water supply valve under the toilet to stop water backing up until your emergency plumber arrives.
Gas leak – if you smell gas in your home, it’s crucial to act fast. While waiting for help to arrive, make sure you extinguish all open flames and turn your gas supply off at the valve to minimise the risk of ignition. To prevent a build-up of gas, open all windows and doors to let fresh air in.
No hot water – while not an immediate safety concern, not having access to hot water can be a hygiene issue, impacting showering and clothes washing. The first thing to do is check your hot water system. If you can smell gas, turn off your gas valve immediately and wait for assistance.
Blocked drain – if water can’t drain away from a sink, bath or shower, this could result in water overflow and potential flooding. Use a plunger to try to dislodge the blockage or try drain cleaner to clear a path. If this doesn’t work, contact a plumber to have a closer look at the issue.
Water leak – while a slow leak might not seem like much of an emergency, there could be pressure building in the tap or pipe which could result in a more serious issue. Try to isolate the leak first. If that doesn’t work, turn off the water supply to your home while you wait for help.
Frozen pipe – this may not be an issue where you are, but in some areas, a frozen pipe can result in no water and permanent damage. For an external frozen pipe, wrap hot towels around it to help the thawing process, while turning up the heat inside can help thaw internal frozen pipes.
Call an emergency plumber you can trust
If you have a plumbing emergency, OP Plumbing Services is only a call away. Servicing the Sutherland Shire, St George Basin, Wollongong and Greater Sydney, our emergency plumbers are ready to help with these issues and more. Call 0417 299 820 or contact us for immediate assistance.